Violin Forum/Message Board

cmkaco · Junior Member Joined: 07 Feb 2011 Posts: 24 Location: US

Hi all. I am new here. Been making archtop guitars and Greek bouzoukis, and thinking of making a violin.

I wanted to ask if there is a good first violin to make (since it seems that in the violin world most people copy famous violins).

To that end, I have been searching for a source of detailed plans for such violins, including form pattern, outline pattern, arching templates and scroll. I have heard that The Strad Magazine has posters with dimensions on the back, but they don't seem so specific.

Thanks for your help in advance!

ghammond · Member Joined: 22 Jan 2011 Posts: 42

These are not "plans" per se, but some good materials are:

http://029dd44.netsolhost.com/violin_videos.html
Harry Wake provides good videos about how to make violins and plans are included.

Also, The Art of Violin Making by Chris Johnson is a favorite. So are the Henry Strobel books.

I am no expert, so I'm sure others on this forum may have better suggestions for specific plans.

cmkaco · Junior Member Joined: 07 Feb 2011 Posts: 24 Location: US

Thanks. I was hoping somebody would chime in and say, everybody starts out making the XYZ Strad, or something like that. Nobody has done that, so am I to assume that there is really no "best" violin to start out with?

DBurns · Member Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 31

You might find this web-site handy. I did!

http://www.theluthierslibrary.com/luthiers_library/

If you login as a guest they give you a free sample, so that you can get an idea of what to expect.

ghammond · Member Joined: 22 Jan 2011 Posts: 42

Oh, very cool. I've never seen that website before. Thanks!

Dave Chandler · Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 8:14 pm Post subject: Plans

I have a set of blueprints (actual full size drawings from every side) for "The Messiah" by Stradivari. I'd be happy to make copies and send them to anyone interested, but must check out the price of having copies made. The two sheets are about 2' x 3' each, with dimensions of everything measureable.

I also find the on-line Luthier Library to be very helpful. You can look at all the dimensions of one instrument without being a member, a 1650 Stainer viola. www.theluthierslibrary.com
_________________
Dave in the Blue Ridge
Southern Violin Association

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to the next with no loss of enthusiasm" Winston Churchill

"I took the road less travelled, and now I don't know where I am." Marco Polo

cmkaco · Junior Member Joined: 07 Feb 2011 Posts: 24 Location: US

I would very gladly pay for copying and shipping for a set. Thank you for your generous offer.

By the way, is the Messiah a violin that is in the Luthier's Library database?

Chet Bishop · Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 7:03 pm Post subject:

Make that two of us, please.
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Chet Bishop
https://bluefiddles.com
https://fivestringfiddles.com

Benedict White · Member Joined: 27 Jan 2011 Posts: 113

3? Could you turn them into PDF's?

ghammond · Member Joined: 22 Jan 2011 Posts: 42

4?

sorry...

I would be more than happy to pay for copies, shipping, and an annoyance fee. Smile

...

I was looking at the Wake diagrams, and although they are "good" they don't seem to line up with each other exactly, which makes them kind of unusable. I guess they're good to get an idea, but I don't think I can use them "as is".

DonLeister · Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 8:18 pm Post subject:

Next month's Strad will have the 'Messiah' poster which would be a good companion to the drawings.

cmkaco · Junior Member Joined: 07 Feb 2011 Posts: 24 Location: US

Do those posters come in the magazine. I have bought several issues at the book store, and they never have the posters in them. Perhaps you only get the poster if you subscribe?

ghammond · Member Joined: 22 Jan 2011 Posts: 42

Are the posters just "pictures" of the violin? Or are they diagrams/specifications of how to reproduce the violin?

Sorry... I'm not very familiar with the Strad mag.

DonLeister · Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 11:11 pm Post subject:

The poster comes with the magazine, folded, it has full size photos, front, back a side, scroll views. On the back is usually actual size back outline, arches, thickness maps, important measurements, f templates. It's about the best printed resource out there.
Also there will be an article along with it.

Usually, but not always(!) posters are available separately, rolled. When the Cannone poster came out it was unavailable separately so if you think you want the poster you should get it, I'm not sure but I believe it will be in the March issue.

You can never tell which issue will have a poster in it, usually about 2 a year, so I keep my subscription up to date. The Strad's delivery and subscription is a bit whacky, I got my last two month's a week apart from each other, they are notorious for off-beat delivery.

Dave Chandler · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:39 am Post subject: Plans

Here are two photos of the blueprints (they are printed on blue-ish white paper), just to give you an idea. I have about 5 requests so far, and it won't be till mid-April till I get home and have time to get it together.

I'll be checking on cost to duplicate and send, not as pretty as a poster, but it does have every possible dimension down to rib thicknesses, overhang distances at various points, graduation data, etc. Even shows the deviation of the neck from a straight line down center of the violin. Everything in mm scale.

the messiah blueprint pg 2 by David Chandler, on Flickr

the messiah blueprint by David Chandler, on Flickr
_________________
Dave in the Blue Ridge
Southern Violin Association

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to the next with no loss of enthusiasm" Winston Churchill

"I took the road less travelled, and now I don't know where I am." Marco Polo